Sheet collator

ABSTRACT

A collator comprises sheet-loading pockets, sheet-feeding roller pairs arranged on top of the pockets, and sheet ejectors associated to each pocket, each ejector having a mechanical clutch retained in rest condition in the disconnecting position by means of a retractable bolt. The collator further comprises a sequencing switch for controlling the momentary and seriatim retracting of the bolts.

United States Patent 1191 Paulus et al. 1 June 3, 1975 1 SHEET COLLATOR3,108,797 10/1963 Me slre 270/58 [75] lnventors: Jean Paulus,Anderlecht; Christian Pier" 50mg! "evillers, both of 3,580,563 5/1971Bassett 270/58 Belgium [73] Assignee: C. P. Bourg, Belgium PrimaryExaminerR0bert W. Michell Assistant ExaminerA. Heinz [22] Flled' 1972Attorney, Agent, or Firm-McGlew and Tuttle [21] Appl. No.: 314,345

[57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S.CI. 270/58 A conatm Comprises sheeploadingpockets sheet [51] ll'olt. Cl. B65|1 39/02 feeding roller pairs arrangedon p of the pockets, [58] Field of Search 270/58, 12-15, and Sheetejectors associated to each pocket, each 270/45-51 ejector having amechanical clutch retained in rest condition in the disconnectingposition by means of [56] Referemes C'ted a retractable bolt. Thecollator further comprises a se- UNITED S T S P T quencing switch forcontrolling the momentary and 2,089,861 8/1937 Schlensker 270/58 eriatimretracting of the bolts. 2,919,917 1/1960 Worswick 270/58 2,920,8881/1960 Smith 270/58 6 Clams 15 D'awmg Flgul'es m s s 134 5 1.6 42633122201.,135 69 32 Iii-55 2 L 91-1 7 I 7 .1 v L 50 ,1 1 7 l T ,4/ "i 1.54 n u I i \A a 3 3 3 3 3 l i 5. c 1 z 11 1.- I I 5 2 52 llll it i 1I'll n m 52 H Y PATENTED 3 SHEET FIG] sneer (OLLA'IUR FIELD ANDBACKGROUND OF THF. INVENTION This imention relates to a sheet collatorwhich comprises loading pockets for sheet packets. arranged side by sidebetween a so-called head end and a so-called outlet end of the collator.the pockets slanting upwards towards the outlet end. sheet feedingroller pairs arranged above the pockets with one roller pair to eachpocket. baffle elements for guiding the sheets between the pockets andthe rollers on the one hand and between the rollers on the other hand. akinematic chain for driving at least one roller from each feeding rollerpair and arranged along one longitudinal side of the collator andextending between the collator head and outlet ends. and a sheet ejectorin each pocket for directing the sheets towards the feeding rollerpairs.

A collator ofthis kind is already known front Belgian Pat. No. 731.447.This collator has the drawback of operating slowly and not allowing thecollating of sensitive paper. Indeed in this known collator. the sheetejection is performed simultaneously from all of the pockets by means ofshoes operated by rodding. the shoes having a tendency to feed aplurality of paper sheets simultaneously from each pocket.

Another collator is known from US. Pat. No. 3.IOH 797. in which thepockets are located one above the other and the sheets at the outletfrom the pockets are conveyed by a belt arrangement having a generallyvertical side. In the known collator the sheets are ejected in sequencefrom the pockets by means of an ejector comprising wheels. conveying thesheets by friction. which are connected through a freewheeling mechanismto a driving shaft. The driving shafts of succeeding pocket ejectors aredriven periodically and in sequence by a stud-hole rodding. This machinehas the drawback of not allowing the collating of sensitive paper sheetsdue to the intricate path followed by the sheets at the outlet from thepockets. Moreover. the high inertia of the mechanical componentssubstantially limits the preparing action for the following sheet to beejected from each pocket. which might be expected from the free-wheelingarrangement of the ejector. The machine has moreo\ er the well-knowndrawbacks resulting from the use ol'conveying belts. Finally the machinedoes not allow the collating of bundles with a very high number ofsheets due to the prohibitive collator height resulting therefrom and tothe lost time due to the return movement of the stud-hole rodding by thecycle end.

In German Pat. No. 254.581 there has been disclosed a collator whichcomprises a series of pockets arranged above a conveying belt for thesheets which are laid thereon. the collator laying down periodically onthe belt a series of sheets originating simultaneously from all of thepockets. after which the belt is advanced over one step so as to bringthe sheet bundles thus formed in sequence below each pocket down to thecollator outlet. In this known collator. the sheet ejection from thepockets and the conveying thereof on the belt are performed by means ofan intricate unit which comprises a transfer roller pair and afree-wheeling ejector. the transfer wheels being dri\en continuouslyfrom a driving mechanism with a separate motor which is independent fromthe kinematic chain and the driving motor for the sheet conveying belt.an electro-magnetic clutch being cut-in between the transfer rollerdriving unit and the ejector driving this. In said collator. the unitcomprised of the driving members for the transfer rollers and theejector is arranged on one and the same side of the collator. whichleads to a very high bulkiness per pocket preventing the use ofthemachine for collating bundles with a large number of sheets. Moreover.this known collator is very expensive also due to the large number ofmechanical and electric components required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention has its object to obviate thedrawbacks of the known collators by providing a machine which is verycompact and allows a high output. The invention allows provides acollator of simple construction with a small number of parts with adiscontinuous movement. which thus leads to a reliable action of theejector for separating the top sheet from the sheet packets by the endof the ejection phase. Another object is also to allow keeping adetermined output rate for the sheet bundles, said rate being high perse even with a large number of sheets per bundle. due to a noveldivision of the total pocket number and to the simultaneous operationthereof.

For this purpose according to the invention, each ejector comprises. ina way known per se. wheels for driving sheets by friction. so-calledejecting rollers which are mounted on a shaft connected through afree-wheeling transmission to a driving shaft having. on that collatorlengthwise side opposite to the kinematic chain. a mechanical clutch forthe connection to an operating gear which comprises a driving pinionmade fast to that end opposite to the end associated to the kinematicchain. of the shaft of one roller from the feeding roller pairassociated with the pocket. the mechanical clutch in the rest conditionof the ejector. being retained in the disconnecting position by means ofa retractable bolt. the collator further comprising a sequencing switchfor controlling the momentary and seriatim retracting of the bolts.starting with the bolt associated to that pocket adjacent to thecollator head end.

The invention also pertains to a method for collating sheets whichcomprises collating a plurality of sheet bundles simultaneously byejecting periodically simultaneously a plurality of sheets from each oneof pockets spaced by a fixed pocket number. the sheets from succeedingpockets being superposed with those sheets from the preceding pocketsalong the collator feeding direction. as fast as they are ejected, insuch a way that a complete bundle will reach the collator outlet endwhile at least one other bundle is being formed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other details and features of theinvention will stand out from the description given below by way of nonlimitative example and with reference to the accompanying drawings. inwhich:

FIG. I is a diagrammatic elevation view showing a sheet collatoraccording to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the collator shown in FIG. I.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view. on a larger scale and partly in sectionalong line III--III in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view in section along line I\'--\/ in FIG. I,on a larger scale with some elements not shown for clearness.

FIG. 5 is an elevation view partly in section along line \/--V in FIG. 2and on a larger scale.

FIG. 6 is a plan view. with parts broken away. of the sequencing switchwhich is part of the collator shown in FIG. I, on a larger scale.

FIG. 7 is an elevation view of the reed contact platen which is part ofthe switch shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 shows the main circuitry of the collator in FIG. ll.

FIG. 9 and II) are simplified diagrammatic elevation views of anotherembodiment of the collator according to the invention. showing differentmoments in a working cycle of the collator.

FIG. II is a diagrammatic view of the sequencing switch of the collatorshown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. I2 is a perspective view of part of the sequencing switch shown inFIG. 11.

FIG. 13 shows the main circuitry of the collator shown in FIGS. 9 and10.

FIGS. [3A and 13B are diagrammatic perspective views, partly in section,ofa helical spring clutch forming part of the sheet collator.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the various FIGS, the samereference numerals pertain to similar elements.

The collator shown in the figures comprises a frame I, 2, the lower part1 of which comprises a number of pockets 3, in the present case twelvepockets numbered from I to XII, for receiving packets of sheets to becollated. and the upper part 2 of which comprises pairs of conveying orfeeding rollers 4, 5 with one pair to each pocket 3, so as to feed thesheets, as they come out of the pockets 3, between a so-called collatorhead end adjacent pocket I and the opposite end. the so-called outletend, which is adjacent the last pocket, in the present case pocket XII.

To each pocket 3 is associated a sheet ejector generally shown at 6 andwhich will be further described hereinbelow.

To guide the sheets ejected, between the pockets 3 and the roller pairs4, 5 on the one hand, and between the succeeding roller pairs 4, 5 onthe other hand, the collator comprises baffles 7, 8, 9 which will befurther described below.

The pairs of feeding rollers 4,5 are continuously driven when thecollator is operating, by means of a driving kinematic chain whichextends along one longitudinal side 10 of the collator and which drivesone roller from each roller pair 4, 5. This kinematic chain comprisesessentially a helical pinion ll which is mounted on a journal 12 of thelower roller 4, which pinion II meshes with a helical driving pinion 13fast on a main driving shaft 14 which extends over the whole collatorlength provided with roller pairs 4, 5.

The sheet ejectors 6 of the pockets I to XII are operated in sequencefor a short time. at least once during each collator working cycle. Forthis purpose each ejector 6 comprises rollers I5 for friction feeding ofthe sheets and rollers 15, mounted on a shaft 16, are driven by a beltI7 which is trained about a driving pulley I8 which is joined. through afree-wheeling clutch 19, to a driving shaft 20.

The driving shafts have. at the end thereof located on that longitudinallengthwise collator side 2] which lies opposite the side [0 with thekinematic chain 11.

a mechanical clutch 22 which insures. in the connected position. thejoining of driving shaft 20 with a driving gearing which comprises. onthe one hand, a driven pinion 23 freely rotatable on shaft 20 and moreparticu' larly on an extension journal 24 joined through a coupling 25to shaft 20, and, on the other hand. a driving pinion 26 mounted on thecorresponding end of the lower roller in the pair 4, 5 associated withthe pocket 3 the ejector of which is presently considered. The pinion 23thus rotates continuously when the collator is working.

The mechanical clutch 22 of each ejector comprises a retractable boltwhich retains the clutch in the disconnected position when the ejectoris resting.

In the embodiments shown in the figures, the mechanical clutch iscomprised of a spiral spring 27 connected to the turned portion ofaspindle 28 terminating the journal 24 of ejector driving shaft 20.Helical spring 27 also surrounds the hub of pinion 23 and ends in astop-pin 29 against the movable armature 30 of an electro-magnet 31. Inthe disconnected position which cor responds to the unenergizedcondition of electromagnet 3|. armature 30 prevents the spring 27tightening about the hub of pinion 23.

For connecting momentarily and in sequence the clutches 22, the collatorcomprises a sequencing switch 32 which is driven in synchronism with thekinematic chain ll, l3, 14.

The sequencing switch is preferably an electric switch which closes insequence electric circuits energizing the electro-magnets 31 associatedwith the sue ceeding pockets 3, during a time period which is shorterthan the time required for a 360rotation of stop-pin 29 of the clutchspring 28. In this way the driving shaft 20 performs during eachejection. a substantially complete revolution and the speed ratiosbetween the gears of shaft 20 and ejector 6 are so selected that whenshaft 20 is no more driven, a sheet. from a pocket which has been fed bythe ejector rollers. will then have trvelled over the distance betweenthe pocket thereof and the engagement generatrix of that roller pair 4,5 which is associated to the considered pocket. As the speed of feedingrollers 4, S is higher than the speed of ejector rollers 15, thefreewheeling clutch I9 of the ejector will then operate in such a waythat the shaft 16 and the rollers 15 will go on rotating. no more underthe action of shaft 20 but rather due to the action of the sheet whichimparts thereto the movement of rollers 4.

When the sheet has moved enough inside the upper part of the collatorand is disengaged from ejector rollers I5, rollers 15, due to theinertia therof, go on rotating over a portion of a revolution. thusforcing the fol lowing sheet to move away from the remainder of thesheets and to move slightly upwards. which prepares very advantageouslythe ejection of the following sheet.

The sequencing switch 32 associated with the collator shown in FIGS. 1to 8 is a rotating switch with reed contacts 33. The contact reeds Rl toRXll. each correspond to a respective energizing circuit for anelectromagnet 31, and are distributed with an uniform angular spacing ona platen 34 which is mounted on the fixed portion of a bearing 35 whichis provided as a support. together with another bearing 36, for a shaft37 supporting a disk 38 provided with a permanent magnet 39. Thebearings 35, 36 are supported by side-plates 97 which are in turnsupported through angle-ions 98 by one of the side-members 2.

The shaft 37 is connected. through a coupling 40 and a speed-reductor41, to shaft 14 which is driven by means of a variable pulley and belttransmission 42, 43. 44 from an electric motor 45.

The platen 34 of the rotating switch 32 comprises two auxiliary reedcont-actors Ru and RC which are ar ranged following the last reedcontact RXIl controlling electro-magnets 31, so as to program thestopping and starting of the collator. as described below with reference to FIG. 8.

lt is well known that, in a switch of this kind. a rota tion of disk 38closes the succeeding contacts 33 for a time period correspondingsubstantially to the time magnet 39 is moving past each one of the reeds33.

To each pocket corresponds an on-off selector Sl to SXll and anindicator lamp.

There will now be described the successive removal of sheets from thepockets 3 up to the taking over thereof by the feeding roller pairs 4,associated to the pockets as well as the collating of the sheetsextracted in sequence, with reference to the electric circuitry shown inFIG. 8.

A general low-voltage supply shown by lines L1, L2 is obtained bytransforming and rectifying from the mains shown by lines L3, L4 througha main on-off switch 46. The collator motor 45 is connected acrossswitch 46 through normally-open contacts tl, t2 of a relay T. Each ofthe reed contacts RI: Rll is seriesconnected with a respectiveelectro-magnet coil EAI, EAII and a corresponding selector SI. SI] andis cut in respective line L5 connected across lines L1, L2 of thelow-voltagee circuit. through a normallyopen contact C2 of a relay C.The reed contact Ra is cut in a line L6 parallel to lines L5, in serieswith a normally-open contact a2 of a relay A and the energizing coil ofa relay F. The relay A is connected in a line L7 comprising anormally-open contactor 47 for cutting off the collator. The reedcontact Re is cut in a line L8 connected across the lines Ll and L2, inseries with a normally-open contact d2 ofa relay D and the energizingcoil of relay C. The coil of relay D is cut in a line L9 in series witha normally-open contactor 48 for operating the collator.

When it is desired to operate the collator, the monentary operation ofcontactor 48 energizes relay D which is held energized through its owncontact d1. A normally-open contact d3 of relay D energizes relay Twhich, through the closing of the contacts tl and t2 thereof, startsmotor 45. However it is only when magnet 39 of the rotating switch disk80 moves past reed contact Rc that relay C will be energized. Relay C isheld energized through its own contact Cl. Another contact C2 of relay Cis closed and allows the energizing in sequence ofthe lines as fast asthe reed contacts Rl, Rll. l RXll close. By each 360-revolution of theswitch, a bundle of 12 sheets is formed and as soon as magnet 39 liesagain facing contact RI, the following bundle begins to form, while thepreceding bundle comes out of the col lator.

When it is desired to stop the collator. closing of contactor 47energizes relay A which is held energized through it own contact al.Another contact a2 of relay A closes the energizing circuit for relay Fas soon as reed contact Ra closes. A normally-closed contact fl willopen then in such a way that relay C will be cut off which causesopening of contact C2 thereof and the following cycle will not beginafter the collator. irrespecthc of the moment where the contactor 47 hasbeen operated. will have completed the working cycle thereof. This isdue to the arrangement of reed contact Ra after the last reed contactRXll. The circuitry is so designed as to produce the same action in thecase of cramming by means of microswitches 49, as well as in the case ofmissing or additional sheets.

The platen 34 is provided according to the invention with additionalreed contacts for the synchronous control devices of the collator suchas a planing device. a clipping device, a folding device, an ejectingdevice, etc.

The rotating speed of the switch is determined by the time required forthe sheets, after extracting from the pocket thereof, to clear under theaction of the upper rollers 4, S the spacing between two succeedingroller pairs, The following cycle of the described collator may start assoon as clutch electro-magnet 31 of that pocket 3 nearest the receivingstation 50 has been energized and well before the sheet bundle has beencompletely taken over by the receiving station 50 under the action ofthe upper rollers 4, 5. Due to the peculiar design of the collatoraccording to the invention, the output thereof is much higher than theoutput of the presently known collators of this kind. By way of example,a collator according to the invention with l2 pockets allows pulling out43,200 sheets per hour, thus allowing collating of 3,600 bundles perhour when all 12 pockets are in action.

There will now be further described some parts of the above collator.

The collator frame is comprised of the base skeleton l to the top ofwhich are attached the two spaced parallel side-members 2, which arecomprised of U-sections with the backs thereof facing one another, andbraced over a substantial length therof by the baffle elements 7 and, onthe collator head side, by a frame which receives the switch 32 formotor 45, the selecting elements 5, the indicator lights L and otherpossible control elements. The skeleton 1 has an intermediate deck 51 towhich are attached, at regular intervals. parallel slides 52 which form.together with shoes 53 attached to the lower portions of the baffleelements 7, guide and bearing surfaces for the removable pockets 3.Pockets 3 have, in a way known per se, sheet holding flaps 54, a bottom55 and a pair of stops 56 in the top corners.

The U-sections 2 bear on skeleton l with the one flange 57 thereof whilethe web 58 lies on the side of the frame lengthwise axis so as to formrespective housings 59 which may be reached from the front side 21 andthe back side 10 of the collator, respectively. The flanges 57 ofside-members 2 end in an inner rim 60 which is used as a seat, on theone hand for stiffening braces 61, and on the other hand for a facingsection 62. To the lower flanges 57 of side-members 2 are attached, atregular intervals, angle-irons 72 for supporting the baffle elements 7.

Such a frame structure allows an easy conveying of the collator as theelements comprising the same may be packed separately and assembled onlocation. Moreover the composition of the collator as regards the numberof pockets is easy,

Each ejector 6 comprises a cradle formed by a pair of spaced arms 64joined by a pair of braces 65. The shaft 16 of the ejector rollers 15 isrotatably supported on the cradle lower portion, The cradle is rotatablymounted in turn on the driving shaft 20. Each cradle may be raisedseparately so as to put out of action the ejector. as this has beenshown in FIG. for the righthand ejector. For this purpose. a cranked rod66 di rected cross-wise to the collator main direction. is associated atthe one end 67 thereof to an intermediate plate 68 of the cradle and atthe other end thereof. which is supported in the rim 60 of theside-member 2. to a crank 69 witih a crank-pin 70. Crank pin 70 is slidably mounted in the crank 69 in such a way that the end thereof may belaid. to obtain the cradle raising position. on the front edge of astrip 7I. Strip 7] is so mounted as to be slidable lengthwise betweenflange 57 of side-member 2 and suporting brackets 72. and strip H isprovided with stud-holes 73 through each of which passes a finger'74integral with one of the rods 66, in such a way that. by moving strip71. it is possible to raise or lower simultaneously all of the ejectorcradles.

Finally to each rod 66 is attached. on the crank side. a counter-weight75 the mass of which helps to secure a substantially constant pressureof the ejector rollers IS on the sheets irrespective of the thickness ofthe sheet packet in each pocket. In FIG. 5 has been shown thecounterweight position relative to two succeeding pockets. respectivelyin the raised position of the cradle and in the position where no moresheets remain in the pocket.

The electro-magnets 31 are attached to brackets 76 which are in turnattached to the web of side-member 2 of the collator skelton. Thebrackets 76 of non- Magnetic material are provided with platforms 77 forholding the electro-Magnet cores 30.

There will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, thestructure and mounting of the rollers 4, 5

as well as of the baffle walls for the sheets, arranged above pockets 3.As described above. in each one of the roller pairs, the lower roller 4is continuously positively driven by the kinematic chain ll. l3, [4while the upper roller is driven by friction from the lower roller. Thelower rollers 4 are rotatably mounted by means of journals 12 inbearings supported by the sidemembers 2 and the journals bear. atopposite ends. a pinion I] and a pinion 26. respectively.

The upper rollers 5 are each freely-rotatably mounted through the cheeks78 thereof on an axle 79 which is supported at the ends thereof inattachment means 80 which comprise a pair of arms 81 joined at one endby axle 79. Arms 81 bear. on the outside at the other end thereof. apivot pin 82 on either side. Pivot pin 82 is received in a supportingplate 83 which is attached to the web 58 of the side-members 2 adjacentthe roller 5 of the adjacent feeding roller pair 4. 5 which is locatedon the side of the collator head end. The attachment means furthercomprise the upper baffle wall 9 which is attached by means 84 betweenthe side arms 8I thereof. Consequently. the upper roller 5 bears. underits own weight as well as under the weight of the attachment means 80thereof. on the lower roller 4.

Each lower baffle wall comprises the section 7 which is curved about thelower roller 4. in which area the section is provided with recesses 85for clearance of annular shoes 86 which are attached on roller 4. Thesection 7 is extended by a section in the shape of a birds bill 8 whichis attached. on collator side l0. to the hear ing 87 supporting theshaft which drives the ejector and. onlside 21, to an angleiron 88attached to web 58 of side member 2.

The crammingcontrol microswitches 49 are secured to web 58 ofside-member2. on side I0. The arm 89 of each microswitch 49 is operated by abracket 90 which projects from the side of sidemember 2. on the one arm81 of the attachment means for each upper roller 5.

In FIGS. 9 and I3 has been shown very diagrammat' ically. by leaving outthe upper rollers 5, the ejectors 6 and the transmission means. anotherembodiment of the collator according to the invention. with which theoutput is very substantially increased by forming simultaneously aplurality of bundles. For this purpose. the pockets have been dividedinto a plurality of series of succeeding pockets and the sheets from apocket of each series are ejected simultaneously. To this end. thesequencing switch comprises as many series of contacts as there areseries of pockets and the sequencing switch operates simultaneously acontact in each contact series in such a way that. as the cycle isperformed. the succeeding contacts in each series are operated at thesame time.

In the modified embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 13, the pockets aredivided into two series. from I to VII and from VIII to XII. This meansthat the rotating sequencing switch 40 (FIG. ll) comprises. spacedevenly over the circumference thereof. a first series of microswitchesRl to RVII and a second series of microswitches RVIII to RXll.Microswitches Rl. RVIII are operated simultaneously. microswitches RII.RIX are operated simultaneously. etc. At the same time microswitch RVIis operated. so is end-of-cycle microswitch Ru. and microswitch RVII isoperated together with begin-of-cycle microswitch Re. Michroswitches Rlto RXII and Ru. Re are equivalent to the reed contacts in the embodimentshown in FIGS. 1 to 8 and they are secured by pairs to a stationaryplaten 34, and brush 39 mounted on shaft 37 is equivalent to therotating permanent magnet in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 8.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, there has been shown the outlet 50 of the sheetbundles with a collecting plate 91 having a retractable stop 92. atransfer belt 93 and a counter-roller 94.

In FIG. 9. which shows the collator in operation. at a momentcorresponding to the beginning of a cycle. a bundle LA of [2 sheetscomes out form the collecting means 50 while a following bundle L8 isbeing formed. The front edge of bundle L8 is coming near the feedingroller pair 4. 5 of pocket VIII. Simultaneously with the ejection of asheet from pocket VIII there occurs the ejection of a sheet from pocketI. Then. and in sequence. there occurs simultaneously the ejection of asheet from pocket IX and from pocket II; from pocket X and from pocketIll. from pocket XI and from pocket IV. This moment has been shown inFIG. 10 where the planed bundle LA is discharged. the bundle L8 is beingcompleted with a series of sheets and a following bundle LC is beingformed and lies above pocket IV. Fi nally there occurs the ejection frompocket XII and from pocket V. At this moment the bundle LB will be takenin charge by collecting means 50 and the bundle LC will be completedwith the sheets from pockets VI and VII. It is only when bundle LC comesnear the pocket Vlll that the conditions of FIG. 9 are found again andthat the bundle following bundle LC will begin to form The lag betweenthe moment where the sheet comes out form the last pocket (in this caseXll) and the moment at which there begins the formation of a new bundleat the level of pocket 1 is desired to give to the bundles the timerequired for being planed and discharged.

The electric circuit diagram of FIG. 13 is very similar to the diagramshown in FIG, 8. However it does coniprise the circuits required by thebeginning ot'the collator operation. to have a sheet come out of pocket\'lll only after a 36tlrevolution of brush 91, that is when a firstbundle reaches the level of pocket VIII. and by the stopping of thecollator. for preventing sheets coming out of pockets l to V1! while thelast bundle is being completed by sheets from pockets Vlll to Xll.

For this purpose. the circuits L of contacts Rl to RVl are connected inparallel through line L in circuit Ll, by means of a normally-closedcontact a 2 of a relay W while the circuits L5 that of contacts RVll toRXll as well as of contact Ra are connected in parallel through a lineLll in circuit Ll by means of the normally-open contact ul forselfholding of a relay U. Relay W comprises a normally=open contact W]for self-holding and a contact W3 in series with the contact a2 in thecircuit of the coil of relay F.

When starting the collator operation by means of contactor 48 and whenthe cycle contact Rc has been operated. which results in energizingrelays C. D and T. line L10 is energized through relay contact C2 insuch a way that the succeeding closure of contacts Rl to RVI energizesin sequence the electromagncts EAl to EAVI. Line Lll remains cut outuntil the momentary closure of contact RV! which, through a diode 95.,results in energizing of relay U. which is held through its own contactat, and thus energizing of line L] I. From this moment on. the collatoroperates by the momentary closure of two electro-magnet circuits at thesame time, such circuits corresponding to the contact pairs Rl. RVlll;Rll. RlX. etc.

When it is desired to stop the collator. which occurs by means ofpush'button 47. the immediately following passing of brush 39 overcontact RVll results. through diode 96, in energized relay W opening. bymeans of the contact w2 thereof. line l H). line Lll will remainenergized up to the passage of brush 39 over end-ofcycle contact Ru.which closes the circuit of relay F which opens circuit Ll arid thecircuits of relays D and T.

The number of pocket series might of course by larger than twov Such adivision has all the more importance as the collator comprises a highertotal number of pockets. In such a way. it is possible to increasemanyfold the number of pockets ith respect to a basic pocket numberwithout substantially decreasing the output of the collator computed asnumber of bundles per time unit.

It must be understood that the invention is in no way limited to theabove embodiments and that many changes may be brought therein withoutdeparting from the scope of the imention as defined by the zip pendedclaims.

We claim:

I. ln a sheet collator including a plurality of loading pockets arrangedalong a horizontal line between a head end and an outlet end of thecollator with each pocket having an injection end. ejector rollersmounted in each loading pocket and engaging the top sheet of a packet ofsheets therein to project. responsive to momentary activation of theejector rollers. the top sheet partially out of its loading pocket.mounting means for the ejector rollers in each pocket. each mountingmeans including a rotatable roller shaft carrying the ejector rollers;an ejector drive shaft for the roller shaft. and a driving connectionbetween the drive shaft and the roller shaft, ejector operating meansoperable to rotate the drive shaft. clutch means interposed between theoperating means and the ejector drive shaft. and conveying means locatedat the ejection ends of and adjacent to the loading pockets for engagingeach projected sheet to complete the withdrawal of the sheet from itspocket and to direct the sheet toward the outlet end of the collator:the improvement comprising. in combination. a respective ejector pinionmounted for free rotation one each ejector drive shaft and constitutingsaid operating means. each ejector pinion having a hub portion; drivingmeans operable to continuously rotate said ejector pinions'. arespective spindle means secured to each drive shaft in coaxialalignment with the hub portion of the associated ejector pinion; eachclutch means being contsituted by a respective helical spring having anumber of turns fixedly embracing the associated spindle means and anumber of turns embracing the hub portion of the associated ejectorpinion and biased to wind around such hub portion in a direction totightly grip the hub portion to establish. in the tightened condition, adriving connection between the associated ejector pinion and theassociated spindle for driving of the associated drive shaft; eachhelical spring having a respective stop means on the turns thereofembracing the hub portion of the associated ejector pinion; andrespective retainer means arranged in the path of movement of each stopmeans around the hub portion of the associated ejector pinion to engagethe latter to retain the associated helical spring in a non-tightenedcondition for free rotation of the associated ejector pinion on theassociated drive shaft; respective electro-mechanical operating meansoperable to retract each retainer means out of the path of the stopmeans of the associated helical spring for tightening of the associatedhelical spring to couple the associated ejector pinion to the associateddrive shaft for conjoint rotation; and a sequencing electric switchdevice in controlling relation with said electromechanical operatingmeans and operable to energize said electro-mechanical operating meansmomentarily and in seriatim, beginning with the electro-mechanicaloperating means of the first loading pocket adjacent the head end ofsaid collator and continuing to the last loading pocket adjacent theoutlet end of the collator.

2. In a sheet collator, the improvement claimed in claim 1. in whicheach conveying means includes a pair of conveying rollers positioned oneabove the other with their axes parallel to each other to engage eachprojected sheet to complete the withdrawal of the sheet from its pocketand to direct the sheet toward the following pair of conveying rollersin the direction of the outlet end of said collator; means rotatablymounting each roller of each pair of conveying roller; operating meansincluding a rotating shaft for said conveying rollers; respectivetransmission means connecting said ro tating shaft to one roller of theassociated pair of con veying rollers to drive the one roller; eachoperating driving means for continuously rotating a respective ejectorpinion comprising a gear connection between the rotated conveying rollerof the respective pair of conveying rollers and the respective ejectorpinion; each ejector pinon having a hubv portion; each ejector driveshaft having a hub portion axially aligned with the hub portion of theassociated ejector pinion; each helical spring embracing the hub of theassociated ejector pinion and the hub of the associated drive shaft toconnect the associated ejector pinion with the associated drive shaftupon tightening of the spring.

3. In a sheet eollator, the improvement claimed in claim 2. in whichsaid electric switch device comprise a series of electric switches eachincorporated in a respective control circuit for a respective electromechanical retainer operating means, and a switch operating memberoperable to operate said electric switches individually in sequence fora time which, for each electric switch is shorter than the time requiredfor one complete revolution of the associated ejector drive shaft; andtransmission driving means interposed between said switch operatingmember and the operating means for said conveying rollers, to drive saidswitch operating member.

4. in a sheet collator. the improvement claimed in claim 3, in whicheach electro-mechanical retainer operating means comprises a respectiveelectro-magnet; each electromagent having an armature movable betweentwo positions, one corresponding to the energized condition of theassociated electro-magnet and the other corresponding to thenon-energized condition of the associated electro-magnet; each armaturehaving a respective projecting bolt-like part positioned in the path ofmovement of the stop means of the associated helical spring, in thenon-energized condition of the as sociated electro-magnet.

5. In a sheet collector. the improvement claimed in claim 3, in whichsaid switch device comprises a first series'and at least one secondseries of said electric switches; said switch operating membersimultaneously operating corresponding electric switches of each of saidseries; each switch of a series being incorporated in a respectivecontrol circuit for a respective electromechanical retainer meansassociated with a respective loading pocket of a series of loadingpockets; said first series of electrical switches corresponding to thatfirst series of successive loading pockets having its first pocketadjacent said head end of said collator. and each further series ofswitching means corresponding to a series of loading pockets havingtheir respective first loading pocket adjacent to the last loadingpocket of the preceding series thereof.

6. In a sheet collator. the improvement claimed in claim 2, in whichsaid conveying rollers extend transversely of said horizontal line ofloading pockets between opposite longitudinal sides of said collator;said rotating shaft for said conveying rollers extending along one ofsaid longitudinal sides; respective shaft means mounting the rotatedconveying roller of each pair; gearing connecting said rotating shaftand each shaft means and located on said one longitudinal side of saidcollator', each gear connection between the rotated conveying roller ofeach pair and the associated ejector pinion comprising a driving pinionsecured coaxially on the shaft means rotatably mounting the respectiverotated conveying roller, and located on the opposite longitudinal sideof said collator.

1. In a sheet collator including a plurality of loading pockets arrangedalong a horizontal line between a head end and an outlet end of thecollator with each pocket having an injection end, ejector rollersmounted in each loading pocket and engaging the top sheet of a packet ofsheets therein to project, responsive to momentary activation of theejector rollers, the top sheet partially out of its loading pocket,mounting Means for the ejector rollers in each pocket, each mountingmeans including a rotatable roller shaft carrying the ejector rollers;an ejector drive shaft for the roller shaft, and a driving connectionbetween the drive shaft and the roller shaft, ejector operating meansoperable to rotate the drive shaft, clutch means interposed between theoperating means and the ejector drive shaft, and conveying means locatedat the ejection ends of and adjacent to the loading pockets for engagingeach projected sheet to complete the withdrawal of the sheet from itspocket and to direct the sheet toward the outlet end of the collator:the improvement comprising, in combination, a respective ejector pinionmounted for free rotation one each ejector drive shaft and constitutingsaid operating means, each ejector pinion having a hub portion; drivingmeans operable to continuously rotate said ejector pinions; a respectivespindle means secured to each drive shaft in coaxial alignment with thehub portion of the associated ejector pinion; each clutch means beingcontsituted by a respective helical spring having a number of turnsfixedly embracing the associated spindle means and a number of turnsembracing the hub portion of the associated ejector pinion, and biasedto wind around such hub portion in a direction to tightly grip the hubportion to establish, in the tightened condition, a driving connectionbetween the associated ejector pinion and the associated spindle fordriving of the associated drive shaft; each helical spring having arespective stop means on the turns thereof embracing the hub portion ofthe associated ejector pinion; and respective retainer means arranged inthe path of movement of eahc stop emans around the hub portion of theassociated ejector pinion to engage the latter to retain the associatedhelical spring in a non-tightened condition for free rotation of theassociated ejector pinion on the associated drive shaft; respectiveelectro-mechanical operating means operable to retract each retainermeans out of the path of the stop means of the associated helical springfor tightening of the associated helical spring to couple the associatedejector pinion to the associated drive shaft for conjoint rotation; anda sequencing electric switch device in controlling relation with saidelectro-mechanical operating means and operable to energize saidelectro-mechanical operating means momentarily and in seriatim,beginning with the electro-mechanical operating means of the firstloading pocket adjacent the head end of said collator and continuing tothe last loading pocket adjacent the outlet end of the collator.
 1. In asheet collator including a plurality of loading pockets arranged along ahorizontal line between a head end and an outlet end of the collatorwith each pocket having an injection end, ejector rollers mounted ineach loading pocket and engaging the top sheet of a packet of sheetstherein to project, responsive to momentary activation of the ejectorrollers, the top sheet partially out of its loading pocket, mountingMeans for the ejector rollers in each pocket, each mounting meansincluding a rotatable roller shaft carrying the ejector rollers; anejector drive shaft for the roller shaft, and a driving connectionbetween the drive shaft and the roller shaft, ejector operating meansoperable to rotate the drive shaft, clutch means interposed between theoperating means and the ejector drive shaft, and conveying means locatedat the ejection ends of and adjacent to the loading pockets for engagingeach projected sheet to complete the withdrawal of the sheet from itspocket and to direct the sheet toward the outlet end of the collator:the improvement comprising, in combination, a respective ejector pinionmounted for free rotation one each ejector drive shaft and constitutingsaid operating means, each ejector pinion having a hub portion; drivingmeans operable to continuously rotate said ejector pinions; a respectivespindle means secured to each drive shaft in coaxial alignment with thehub portion of the associated ejector pinion; each clutch means beingcontsituted by a respective helical spring having a number of turnsfixedly embracing the associated spindle means and a number of turnsembracing the hub portion of the associated ejector pinion, and biasedto wind around such hub portion in a direction to tightly grip the hubportion to establish, in the tightened condition, a driving connectionbetween the associated ejector pinion and the associated spindle fordriving of the associated drive shaft; each helical spring having arespective stop means on the turns thereof embracing the hub portion ofthe associated ejector pinion; and respective retainer means arranged inthe path of movement of eahc stop emans around the hub portion of theassociated ejector pinion to engage the latter to retain the associatedhelical spring in a non-tightened condition for free rotation of theassociated ejector pinion on the associated drive shaft; respectiveelectro-mechanical operating means operable to retract each retainermeans out of the path of the stop means of the associated helical springfor tightening of the associated helical spring to couple the associatedejector pinion to the associated drive shaft for conjoint rotation; anda sequencing electric switch device in controlling relation with saidelectromechanical operating means and operable to energize saidelectromechanical operating means momentarily and in seriatim, beginningwith the electro-mechanical operating means of the first loading pocketadjacent the head end of said collator and continuing to the lastloading pocket adjacent the outlet end of the collator.
 2. In a sheetcollator, the improvement claimed in claim 1, in which each conveyingmeans includes a pair of conveying rollers positioned one above theother with their axes parallel to each other to engage each projectedsheet to complete the withdrawal of the sheet from its pocket and todirect the sheet toward the following pair of conveying rollers in thedirection of the outlet end of said collator; means rotatably mountingeach roller of each pair of conveying roller; operating means includinga rotating shaft for said conveying rollers; respective transmissionmeans connecting said rotating shaft to one roller of the associatedpair of conveying rollers to drive the one roller; each operatingdriving means for continuously rotating a respective ejector pinioncomprising a gear connection between the rotated conveying roller of therespective pair of conveying rollers and the respective ejector pinion;each ejector pinon having a hubv portion; each ejector drive shafthaving a hub portion axially aligned with the hub portion of theassociated ejector pinion; each helical spring embracing the hub of theassociated ejector pinion and the hub of the associated drive shaft toconnect the associated ejector pinion with the associated drive shaftupon tightening of the spring.
 3. In a sheet collator, the improvementclaimed in claim 2, in which said electric sWitch device comprise aseries of electric switches each incorporated in a respective controlcircuit for a respective electro-mechanical retainer operating means,and a switch operating member operable to operate said electric switchesindividually in sequence for a time which, for each electric switch, isshorter than the time required for one complete revolution of theassociated ejector drive shaft; and transmission driving meansinterposed between said switch operating member and the operating meansfor said conveying rollers, to drive said switch operating member.
 4. Ina sheet collator, the improvement claimed in claim 3, in which eachelectro-mechanical retainer operating means comprises a respectiveelectro-magnet; each electromagent having an armature movable betweentwo positions, one corresponding to the energized condition of theassociated electro-magnet and the other corresponding to thenon-energized condition of the associated electro-magnet; each armaturehaving a respective projecting bolt-like part positioned in the path ofmovement of the stop means of the associated helical spring, in thenon-energized condition of the associated electro-magnet.
 5. In a sheetcollector, the improvement claimed in claim 3, in which said switchdevice comprises a first series and at least one second series of saidelectric switches; said switch operating member simultaneously operatingcorresponding electric switches of each of said series; each switch of aseries being incorporated in a respective control circuit for arespective electro-mechanical retainer means associated with arespective loading pocket of a series of loading pockets; said firstseries of electrical switches corresponding to that first series ofsuccessive loading pockets having its first pocket adjacent said headend of said collator, and each further series of switching meanscorresponding to a series of loading pockets having their respectivefirst loading pocket adjacent to the last loading pocket of thepreceding series thereof.